January 23, 11,987 CE
Hall of Clans, in Wazyu Settlement, on Patavig, Macedon System, Radom Sector, Artemis Tau…
Volus Magistrate of Patavig, Latnack Kan, sat nervously, as she looked at the Asari in an environmental suit sitting before him. "So you want to recognize this… 'Artemis Tau Authority'?" The Volus asked slowly with trepidation. "... and abandon our allegiance to the Vol Protectorate and the Hierarchy?"
Another Volus, Chief Kon Narlan of Patavig's small police force, spoke up, "With all due respect, Thessia-clan, we are very thankful for the work the Authority and your sister peacekeepers in Hades Gamma have done to combat piracy and terrorism. We've observed record lows in attacks on shipping in the past few years, along with a rise in trade profits. We won't stand in the way of your settlements, and welcome you as neighbors. However, we Vol-clan are citizens of the Protectorate, you cannot expect us to completely forsake the Hierarchy. What do we get in return? Surely you don't mean to strong-arm us into submission?"
"I'd- uh- like to avoid that as well," The Asari coughed, pausing to whisper quietly to one of the masked guards standing next to her.
Then she turned back to the Volus representatives. "Then we can offer terms. You don't have to give up your citizenship and you can keep your Turian mercenaries so long as they don't act against us. We won't interfere with your internal governance, nor any trade you make, but on the condition that no Council military forces can be stationed on Patavig. If you have any security concerns, you can request the Authority for free security, and we can remove them later if and when you so desire. In addition…"
The Asari pushed a datapad displaying a document written in Volus to Magistrate Kan.
The Patavig leader's eyes widened as she examined the document, before passing it around to the others. Soon a buzz rose among the colony's leadership.
"Is this real?" Magistrate Kan questioned. "What is the catch?"
"There is none," The Asari answered calmly, but a glint showed in her eye. "In exchange for not allowing any Council military forces to stay here, and accepting the Artemis Tau Authority's sovereignty over the entire cluster, we will provide you a regular payment of eezo and other mining products. Consider it a… stipend of sorts to your colony."
After the Volus leaders discussed it quietly for several minutes, Magistrate Kan finally lifted his head. "You make a generous bargain, Thessia-clan. You have a deal."
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Artemis Tau Authority Government Bunker on Radom, Radom System, Radom Sector, Artemis Tau…
Union Governor-General of Artemis Tau, Sjorgen-3, smiled and steepled his fingers as he watched transmission of the Volus leader signing the Patavig Accords. "Well done, IX-9. Our first successful official negotiations…"
"Awww... I wanted to see it in person!" A chipper voice spoke up next to the Governor-General. "Those Volus look so cute and funny!"
Sjorgen winced at the carefree comments of his happy-go-lucky Saderan UDC Contact, Lieutenant Myutie. 'Oh great, this bird-brain...'
"Lieutenant, with all due respect, your pheromones would've been useless if you were trapped in an environmental suit anyway."
"Awww..."
"Maybe when the URDC designs a suit that allows one-way release of pheromones. In the meantime, why don't you go report to Minister Kavar about our success?"
"Yep, yep, right away, sir!" Lieutenant Myutie scrambled up from her chair, and headed for the long-range communication alcove. In the process, she flapped her wings excitedly, scattering several of her feathers about.
"Oh dear..." Sjorgen sighed to himself, shaking his head. "Kavar, I hope you're satisfied with this little... experiment I've delivered. Please, take your avian ditz back..."
